How I Manage Stress in the Kitchen

Believe it or not, chefs have a lot on their plate when they are managing food for a restaurant full of hungry people. We have to manage our staff, ensure that everybody gets what they asked for and at the same time, maintain the deliciousness and freshness of the food. Chefs always remain under constant stress, which could contribute to consistent headaches and other health issues.

In fact, some chefs are overworked, and they may suffer from sleeplessness as well. However, there is an easy way to get rid of these troubles. All you have to do is ensure that you live a balanced and healthy lifestyle. I learned how to manage stress over the years, and today I am sharing my secrets with you as well.

Keep the kitchen clean

The cleaner and more organized the kitchen, the lesser stress you will have. During busy hours, I used to feel stressed out because everything was lying around and I could often not find the right condiment or spice when I needed one. This caused delays, made me panic and created further stress. I then started experimenting and found that only a clean and organized kitchen can help me do my best.

This is the reason why I reorganized my kitchen completely and created several sections in the pantry for every different cuisine that our restaurant offered. It also helped me in keeping track of the inventory better. While working during the dinner hours, I and all the cooks knew exactly where to find certain produce, and it all worked out so much better.

It’s not a performance game

Some chefs and cooks mistakenly believe that they should hurl insults at each other and shout during the work hours to ensure that everything is going on correctly. I believe that this is the wrong way to make food. We are not running a race. In the kitchen, our only goal is to ensure that our patrons get a delicious meal on time.

I believe that this can only be done when we create a harmonious atmosphere in the kitchen. I ensure that everybody respects each other, doesn’t feel frustrated too easily and makes food with love. This helps in improving the quality of food. Moreover, when something goes wrong, we get some time to think and fix it. Panicking only worsens the problem.

Sleep in peace

I never compromise with sleep and encourage my staff to ensure that they get a few hours of peaceful sleep every day. I know that it often becomes difficult for people to handle a professional kitchen and life’s responsibilities together. Some of us get to sleep only for 5 hours every day. I ask everyone to focus on the quality of sleep they get. Even if I get to sleep only 5 to 6 hours, I ensure that I get sound sleep and don’t wake up groggy and tired.

Stress can cause even the best of chefs to fail. Don’t let it be the reason why you don’t do justice to your job. Start beating stress before it beats you down.